Author's Note: Whoot! I'm back! Yeah, there aren't any reviews but the fact that I put up a story is all that matters. Here's Chapter 2 to those under the rock readers!
Disclaimer: I do not own any Kingdom Hearts characters, places, and/or plot lines. This is just some tell tale fantasy of a hopeless romantic that targets Riku. That's all!
Tainted Summer Light
Chapter 2
Sitting Here with You
The cool breeze wisped through my hair, carrying red and brown leaves. I sighed, hugging my knees, and looked at the attractive spread before me. The red and white checkered blanket filled my sight, a brown basket sat in the corner of my eye. The shadows of the tree that stood over my collected frame showed green leaves turning yellow.
I unwrapped an arm from my knees and shifted into the enclosed brown picnic basket. I pulled out a golden yellow orange peach, a blush of pink on its skin. Dropping the freshly picked fruit into the basket gently, a confused and depressed sigh escaped my lips. Why did he lie to me? Sure, I invited him to help me save the remaining peaches of the tree we planted but… he promised… I gazed at the orange painted sky, planning my next move only to sink back into my trail of thought.
"…Mind if I join you?" his voice asked. I looked up in surprise, looking at his pure, sea aqua eyes.
"…About time…" I sighed, smiling as he sat next to me.
"Sorry, I kinda had something to do…" he bashfully explained.
"Well whatever it was, at least you got it out of your way." I replied happily, masking my sorrow and disappointment. He looked at me with a concerned look before smiling along with me. Realizing what I was doing, I pried my eyes away from his godly smile, covering my flushed face, and turned towards the picnic basket.
"…You don't always have to be so sad." His voice commented. I turned to him, getting a face full of orange petals. Orange petals…? I grabbed whatever he was holding out to me, gasping in surprise. A bouquet of orange roses rested in my pale fist, a shocked and happy look on my face.
"Wow… they're so pretty…" I awed childishly. "And they're orange…"
"I know how much you like orange and I wanted to get you something nice so I looked everywhere for them." He explained hastily. "By the time I found them, I was an hour late." I buried my face into the roses, taking in the fresh, clean scent before looking up.
"At least you were late for a good-hearted reason…" I commented, resting the roses in my lap. A finger then tilted my chin up, locking my green gaze to aqua.
"That isn't the reason." He corrected noses near mere contact. "There's a far greater truth." My flushed face showed confusion, my voice getting lost in my tangled mind. What truth? Suddenly, his godly image became distorted and his touch faded away. I backed away in surprise, looking back to see him out of sight.
I searched my surroundings frantically, forgetting about my presented roses. A figure in the distance stood before me as I suddenly became drowsy.
Your blood ties you to the bearer
Defeat your demons
In order to save the darkness, defeat yourself
They'll use you to harm him
Don't step near the light; the shadows' numbers will grow
Your heart is never chained down
Go forth and unlock your fleeting destiny before it's too late
I woke up with a start, covered with cold sweat. I looked over to my brother's bed to see him sound asleep and peeked out the window. The first few rays of light were poking through the clouds as I sat up, running my hand through my hair. Your blood ties you to the bearer? Defeat your demons? In order to save the darkness, defeat yourself? Those quotes ran through my trails of thought, confusing me. What was that nightmare about?! I shook my thoughts away and threw my legs over the side of my bed. I might as well get ready for the tiring day before me since I was afraid to fall back to sleep. Not to mention Sora isn't awake yet. He would have first dibs on the bathroom and not come out twenty minutes later…
"Ok!" Kairi cried as the four of us assembled on the front shore of the play island. I stood between Riku and Sora, trying to rub the remaining drowsiness out of my eyes. "You all have to get three logs, rope, and cloth each and report back to me."
"What?!" Sora cried as I cringed at his outburst. "What are you going to do?"
"I have to keep inventory and make sure you guys are doing your job!" Kairi answered. "Now stop stalling! Get a move on!" Sora hung his head in defeat and followed Kairi towards the entrance to the cove, a yawn escaping my lips.
"Hey Suno," Riku started as I turned to him. "Why don't we work together? We'll get much more done."
"Um…" I mumbled biting my thumb and tilting my head. If I work together with Riku then I would be able to spend some time with him. But then if I do, I might make a fool of myself… Oh well, I don't want to hurt Riku's feelings so I have to accept…
"Ok." I said turning to Riku, releasing my thumb from the grasp of my teeth. Riku gave me one of his heart melting smirks and started towards the cove entrance. I followed suit and the both of us slipped past Kairi who was talking to Sora.
"Ok, I'll check the trees for stray logs while you'll comb the shore for driftwood." Riku said as I nodded. Riku then ran across the old broken bridge, jumping across the gaps and loose boards as I jumped down to take my shortcut. I watched Riku disappear into the growth of trees as I walked along the strip I like to sit and think. Immediately I spied a log of driftwood. I smiled inwardly and made my way to it. One down, two to go! I walked further down the straight; eyes peered for any stray pieces of wood. After a few moments of searching, I spied another log of driftwood.
"That makes two…" I said to myself, picking the dried out wood up from the sand. I walked further down with no signs of driftwood. My search reached its end when I reached the end of the straight.
"Oh, what am I going to do…?" I asked to nobody in particular. "…I should get the rope and cloth now. I'll check back later." I nodded in reassurance and retraced my steps back to the broken bridge. I turned to a nearby ladder and scaled its heights to the top of an elevated piece of land. There, a small little lookout was stationed with a zip line just around the corner. Hanging before two openings to the side, what I believe is supposed to be windows, was a sheet of cloth each.
"I should get this other one for Riku…" I said to myself as I pulled the sheets from the supposed windows into my arms. "Now where would I find rope…?" I scanned the area via the lookout, trying to fold the two sheets of cloth. I then spotted a bundle of rope nailed to the side of the wall and another at the end platform of the zip line.
"Perfect…" I sighed with relief, grabbing the bundle of ropes nailed to wall. I threw the rope over my shoulder like a sack of potatoes as I tucked the sheets of cloth under my arm. I approached the zip line, throwing the two logs of driftwood down to the sand below.
"Ok, here goes nothing…" I mumbled, taking hold of the zip line handle with my right hand and threw my weight against it. Instead of landing on the ground, the handle carried me across the thick line of rope as I made it to the end platform unharmed.
"I'll never get used to this…" I sighed letting go of the zip line handle and picked up the bundle of ropes I came to retrieve. I then jumped off the platform and rushed back to the driftwood. I just need one more log and I'm-
"Suno!" I heard Riku call as I jumped and dropped the cloth and logs.
"Oh Riku…" I sighed. "You startled me…" I turned to his approaching figure, counting three logs in tucked under his arms.
"So what did you find?" Riku asked as I picked up the cloth and driftwood that I dropped.
"Um, two sheets of cloth, two bundles of rope, and two logs of driftwood…" I answered, handing him a sheet of cloth and a bundle of rope. "I couldn't find another log. Sorry…"
"It's ok!" Riku reassured, gratefully accepting the two items. "You can have one of my logs." I tilted my head and gave him a confused look.
"Huh?" I absentmindedly asked as Riku laughed at my expression. "Who are you and what have you done with Riku?"
"Funny." Riku replied handing me a log. "But I'm serious. I already know where another log is so you can finish early."
"Um…" I mumbled, blushing slightly. I was trying to find the right words to say but my mind was racing. "Thanks Riku…"
"You're welcome." Riku answered. "Now get going! I have a feeling that your brother is being lazy as usual." I giggled at his remark and ran back to the cove entrance with the three logs, cloth, and rope in hand.
"Kairi, are you here?" I asked as I pushed the entrance door to the cove open to find the said girl missing. "Where could she be…?" I dropped the raft materials to the side of the door and started to look for Kairi.
"I've told you before, I don't remember!" I heard Kairi answer as I spied her and my brother talking by the shore.
"Remember what?" I asked as Sora feigned tears.
"Sis, Kairi won't tell me what I want to know!" Sora cried as I sighed.
"Sora! Weren't you listening to me?!" Kairi scalded as I stood beside her. "I don't remember!"
"Nothing at all?" Sora asked.
"Nothing." Kairi sighed.
"You ever want to go back?" Sora asked.
"Well, I'm happy here." Kairi replied. I sighed in anguish, hanging my head. This is going to be a game of twenty questions before you can say mushroom with a straight face…
"And you have us here." I said as Kairi turned to the ocean.
"But you know… I wouldn't mind going to see it." She said.
"I'd like to see it too. Along with any other worlds out there! I want to see 'em all!" Sora cried.
"It'll be a long way from home…" I commented, Sora giving me a raspberry.
"So what're waiting for?" Kairi asked.
"So, I guess Suno and I are the only ones working on the raft." I heard Riku's voice say as we turned to see Riku with a log tucked under his arm. So he did find another one… Riku tossed the log while Sora tried to catch it, falling on his bum when it fell into his arms.
"And you're just as lazy as he is!" Riku said directly to Kairi as I giggled. Considering on how lazy Sora is, Kairi must be a lazy bum…
"So you noticed." Kairi giggled. "Okay, we'll finish together. I'll race you!" Riku flopped down beside Sora, my brother staring at Kairi with confusion.
"Huh?" he aimlessly asked.
"What, are you kidding?" Riku asked with a face of anguish.
"Ready? Go!" Kairi marked, Riku and Sora giving each other quick glances. The two of them bolted up and started racing towards the cove entrance. I shook my head at their competitive ways and started after them with Kairi not too far behind. Sora and Riku tied for first while I clocked in at second. Kairi finished with a close third. Just as Sora was about to leave, Kairi held him back by the collar of his vest. I snickered inwardly at Sora's priceless face. Eventually he's going to be whipped pretty badly by Kairi.
I made my way through the shack and across the bridge to the small islet housing the slanted paopu tree. I saw that Riku was already sitting at the tree, staring into the deep blue abyss. I walked to the safety of a shady coconut tree and sat down. From the tree, I had a clear view of Riku sitting on the trunk with his back to me. I pulled out my sketchpad and pencil, flipping to a new page. Sighing deeply, I sketched the lines of the trunk of the paopu, drawing only what I saw.
The deep ridges that made the trunk were formed as I moved onto the leaves suspended before the waves below. I drew the star shaped fruit that hug limply among the leaves, most of which were covered by the overgrowth. Finally, the part I dreaded from the beginning, drawing Riku. The lines on my paper formed the shape of the folds of his back, the flowing shoulder length hair, and his laid-back stature. I drew Riku's hand, which was resting upon his knee, making every detail perfect.
After a few more moments, I backed off my work and admired it from afar. It was perfect in my opinion, every curve, every detail, every folds, everything. However, I couldn't help but to think something was missing. The space between Riku and the tree yelled, "Fill me in!" in plain black and white. I wonder… I shook my head and closed my sketchpad just as Sora approached us, running across the bridge.
"Hey Sora," Riku greeted on my brother's approach, "Go get your sword, I'll fight you one on one."
"You're on!" Sora cried running back to the shack to fetch his wooden sword. I sighed heavily as Riku hopped off the paopu tree.
"What's wrong Suno?" Riku asked while I stood.
"Why are you and my brother so competitive?" I asked rubbing the back of my head in frustration.
"Because that's what Sora and I do." Riku bluntly replied, a hang of the head was my seldom reply.
"That's not the kind of answer I was looking for…" I mumbled hoping that Riku didn't hear my remark. Ah, dreams…
"Well if you want an answer, maybe it's because we want to see who the best is." Riku said, pulling out his wooden sword. "Don't worry; I won't make your brother cry too much." Much is underlined and quoted in bold in my book, which means he's going to beat the cream out of my poor brother.
"Should I start worrying for him now?" I asked walking towards the paopu tree just as Sora came back with his wooden sword in hand.
"Ok Riku, prepare to lose!" Sora cried as Riku and Sora got into battle stances. I tiredly rested my chin of the paopu's trunk, half-heartedly watching Riku and Sora duke it out. Sora charged at Riku, swinging his sword. Riku blocked Sora's attack and countered with a slash to the head. Sora took a few steps back in a daze and recovered quickly. Riku slashed at Sora, who watched Riku's actions close and parried the attack, sending Riku to the ground. Riku threw his legs up and landed back onto his feet, kicking Sora off the island in the process.
"That's not fair!" Sora cried, spitting the salt water out of his mouth and flailing his arms in the water.
"Don't be sore Sora!" Riku hollered from his spot on the islet. "You always lose." I smiled at the memories of Sora losing to Riku repeatedly while Riku turned to me.
"Hey Suno, want to go a round?" Riku asked, gaining a tilt of the head. "You can borrow Sora's sword."
"I don't know…" I replied lifting my head from the tree as a wet wooden sword was thrown onto the islet from below.
"Beat him Suno!" I heard Sora cheer as I sighed. Someday, I will haunt his dreams and I will like it…
"Ok, ok…" I replied, taking the wooden sword that was thrown onto the islet and faced Riku. I got into my battle stance, causally gripping the sword slightly to the back of my side and keeping my free hand causally ready. My fighting style consisted of overhand slashes and thrusts with the occasional backhand slashes. Riku got into his battle stance and charged. He made the first attack, which I easily guarded and thrust my weigh against our clashed swords, pushing Riku to the ground. He then threw his legs up and landed back onto his feet as I stepped to the side to avoid his kick. I slashed at him with my sword, getting a few good hits before he guarded against my last attack.
He then counterattacked by thrusting this sword aimed at my stomach. I caught on quick and swung my hips to the side, making Riku's attack only glaze my side. I forced my weight against our clashed swords again, making sure only to apply enough strength to force Riku back. I stepped back, enlarging the gap between Riku and me as the both of us circled each other. Riku inched closer as I backed up trying to keep the gap between us, not noticing how close I was to the edge of the island. I backed away slowly when suddenly; my feet backed up on thin air making me lose my balance. Riku closed the gap between us, reaching out, and grabbing me by the forearm before I could fall of the island.
"I give…" I sighed, scratching the back of my head bashfully as Riku let go of my arm.
"You need to be more careful." Riku teased, ruffling my hair. Grr… I hate being short and cute…
"Suno!" I heard my brother whine as I looked past Riku to see my soaked brother with his hands on his hips. "You lost!"
"So?" I asked tossing him his wooden sword. "I never win either way…"
"Don't you have stuff the gather Sora?" Riku questioned my brother as I walked towards paopu tree.
"Oh man, I do!" Sora cried and ran to collect whatever he needed to collect.
"I can't believe he's my brother…" I mumbled, sitting on the trunk of the oddly shaped tree. "Older mind you…"
"Well that's Sora for you…" Riku sighed sitting next to me on the paopu. A thin line of pink came to my face, my heartbeat increased with Riku's sudden closeness. I gazed dreamily at the scenery, where the sky meets the sea. It sounds like romantic poem or something but it's true. It reminds me of my brother and best friend. Their hearts touch but the sky is too afraid to leave the sea as if something evil will take it by storm. I wish… I wish my life were a fairy tale like theirs…
The four of us had a long day and we assembled to the slanted paopu tree to look at the sunset. With an assembled raft, all we need to do tomorrow is to put the final changes and gather supplies. We sat in the same places as yesterday, leaning in Riku's case.
"So Kairi's home is out there somewhere right?" Sora asked, breaking the silence between us.
"Could be. We'll never know by staying here." Riku bluntly answered.
"But how far could a raft take us?" Sora asked craning his neck to look at Riku.
"Who knows? If we have to, we'll think of something else." Riku replied.
"So, suppose you get to another world. What would you do there?" Kairi asked.
"Well, I haven't really thought about it. It's just... I've always wondered why we're here on this island. If there are any other worlds out there, why did we end up on this one? And suppose there are other worlds... Then ours is just a little piece of something much greater. So we could have just as easily ended up somewhere else, right?" Riku said as I shifted into a sitting position.
"I don't know." Sora bluntly replied laying down on the branch.
"That's why we need to go out there and find out. Just sitting here won't change a thing. It's the same old stuff. So let's go." Riku said as I shifted my attention to the ground.
"You've been think a lot lately, haven't you?" Kairi asked as Riku turned to her.
"Thanks to you. If you hadn't come here, I probably would've never thought of any of this. Kairi, thanks." He said to her. I felt a prang of jealousy go through my heart as Riku addressed Kairi as if… as if Sora and I weren't there at all.
"You're welcome." Kairi replied as I shifted my gaze back to the setting sun.
"But what if," I started, gaining everyone's attention. "What if something bad happens and we become separated?"
"That won't happen sis." Sora comforted sitting up. "You have me to protect you!" I laughed at Sora who was flexing his muscles in a show of strength
"Ok, I guess it'll be ok then…" I mumbled as we turned back to the last moments of the setting sun. Suddenly, for a split second, my body felt unusually numb and cold, from the tips of my fingers to my stubby little toes.
"Suno, you ok?" I heard Kairi ask as my brain started to function correctly. My face was placid, beads of cold sweat forming at my hairline and my heartbeat was rigid and icy. What was that?
"Oh… I'm fine." I reassured bashfully. Liar… "Just tired, that's all…"
"If you say so…" Kairi said, turning back to the sunset. My eyes were glued to the ground, deep in baffled thought. Oh, I hope I don't worry them… Especially Riku… Oh, I'm just making a fool of myself! But it's not like I did on purpose… Please, please… don't worry about me… Oh, why can't one present flowers to calm my tangled thoughts…? Then, maybe by some freak chance, I can learn the truth behind one's reason… But, will dreams be dreams…?
Is as Close as I can get to You
End of Chapter 2
Oh dreams, oh dreams! Why must you taunt me so?! I wanted to write that... badly. And this is where I leave you for two weeks because I'm going on vacation. What? I have a life. And by a freak chance, I maybe able to update via dad's laptop but then again, fate is cruel. Bye!
